SAT "A" List Flashcards
abandon
total lack of inhibition
abase
to lower in rank, prestige, or esteem
abate
to decrease; to reduce
aberration
the act of departing from the right, normal, or usual course
abet
to aid; to act as an accomplice
abjure
to renounce under oath; to abandon forever; to abstain from
abnegate
to give up; to deny to oneself
abortive
ending without results
abridge
to make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles
abrogate
to annul; to abolish by authoritative action
abscond
to leave quickly in secret
abstemious
done sparingly; consuming in moderation
abstruse
difficult to understand
accede
to express approval; to agree to
acclivity
an incline or upward slope, the ascending side of a hill
accretion
a growth in size, an increase in amount
acme
the highest level or degree attainable; summit
acrid
harshly pungent or bitter
acrimony
sharpness or bitterness of speech or temper
actuate
to put into motion, to activate; to motivate or influence to activity
acuity
sharpness or keenness of thought, vision, or hearing
acumen
sharpness of insight, mind, and understanding; shrewd judgment
adamant
stubbornly unyielding
adept
extremely skilled
adjudicate
to hear and settle a matter; to act as a judge
adjure
to appeal to
admonish
to caution or warn gently in order to correct something
adroit
skillful; accomplished; highly competent
adulation
excessive flattery or admiration
adumbrate
to give a hint or indication of something to comee
aerie
a nest built high in the air; an elevated, often secluded, dwelling
aesthetic
having to do with the appreciation of beauty
affable
easygoing; friendly
affectation
a studied or ostentatious pretense or attempt
affected
phony, artificial
aggregate
a collective mass, the sum total
aghast
struck with terror and amazement
agnostic
one who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism
alacrity
cheerful willingness; eagerness
algorithm
an established procedure for solving a problem or equation
alimentary
pertaining to food, nutrition, or digestion
allay
to lessen, ease, reduce, in intensity
alleviate
to ease a pain or a burden
allocate
distribute (resources or duties) for a particular purpose
altruism
unselfish concern for the welfare of others; selflessness
amalgam
a combination of diverse elements; a mixture
ambiguous
open to more than one interpretation
ambivalent
simultaneously feeling opposing feelings; uncertain
amiable
friendly and agreeable in disposition; good-natured and likable
amity
friendship, goodwill
amorphous
having no definite form
anachronism
anything occurring or existing out of its proper time
animus
a feeling of animosity or ill will
anodyne
a source of comfort; a medicine that relieves pain
anomaly
a deviation from the common rule, something that is difficult to classify
anthropomorphic
suggesting human characteristics for animals and inanimate things
antipathy
a deep-seated feeling of dislike; aversion
antiquated
too old to be fashionable or useful
antiseptic
anything that destroys or restrains the growth of putrefactive micro-organisms
antithesis
a contrast or opposition between two things
apathetic
feeling or showing little emotion
aphorism
a pithy (concise and forcefully expressive) observation that contains a general truth
aplomb
self-confident assurance; poise
apostate
one who renounces a religious faith
apportionment
to distribute or allocate proportionally; divide and assign according to some rule of proportional distribution
apposite
strikingly appropriate or well adapted
apprise
to give notice to, inform
approbation
sanction; a threatened penalty for disobeying a law or rule
appropriate
to assign to a particular purpose, allocate
apt
appropriate or suitable in the circumstances
arable
suitable for cultivation
arboreal
relating to or resembling a tree
arcane
known or understood by only a few
archaic
characteristic of an earlier period; old-fashioned
archipelago
a large group of islands
arid
very dry
arrears
unpaid, overdue debts or bills; neglected obligations
arrogate
to claim without justification; to claim for oneself without right
ascertain
to discover with certainty, as through examination or experimentation
ascetic
given to severe self-denial and practicing excessive abstinence and devotion
askance
with disapproval; with a skeptical sideways glance
aspersion
an attack on the reputation or integrity of someone or something
assent
to agree, as to a proposal
assimilate
incorporated and absorbed into the mind; made similar; caused to resemble shrewd; clever
astute
shrewd; clever
atavistic
characteristic of a former era; ancient
atrophy
decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue
attenuate
reduce the force, effect, or value of
audacious
fearless
augment
to make greater, as in size, extent, or quantity
aural
of, relating to, or perceived by the ear
austere
without decoration; strict
autocrat
a dictator
autonomy
independence; self-determination; self-government or the right of self-government
avant-garde
of or pertaining to the experimental treatment of artistic, musical, or literary material
avarice
passion for getting and keeping riches
aver
to declare to be true; to affirm; to assert as a fact
averse
strongly disinclined; having a strong dislike of or opposition to something
avuncular
like an uncle in behavior, especially in kindness and warmth
awry
crooked, askew, amiss; out of proper form, direction, and position
